Serena Williams: 'That's what makes me great, I always play everyone at their greatest'

Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSerena Williams during the 2018 French Open.

Serena Williams talked about what it is like knowing that her opponents will always up their game against her.

Because of this she does not even scout much anymore.

Having to play opponents at their best has forced her to take her game to even higher levels.

At a recent Wimbledon press appearance, Serena Williams responded to comments made by fellow tennis player Madison Keys about how Williams, as the undisputed greatest player in her sport, always has to deal with her opponents bringing their absolute best in a match.

“Every single match I play, whether I’m coming back from a baby or surgery it doesn’t matter, these young ladies bring a game that I’ve never seen before,” Williams said.

“And it’s interesting because I don’t even scout as much because when I watch them play, it’s a totally different game then when they play me.”

And, after a brief pause, Williams added in a total mic drop moment, saying, “That’s what makes me great, I always play everyone at their greatest, so I have to be greater.”

She went on to say, “I like it . . . because everyone comes and they play me so hard, and now my level’s so much higher . . . from years and years of being played like that . . . my level, if it wasn’t high, I wouldn’t be who I am, so I had to raise my level to ‘Unknown’ because they’re playing me at a level that’s unk own. Yeah, so now I’m used to it.”